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It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡quite¡¡dark¡¡without¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡door¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon's¡¡campong£»¡¡left¡¡unlatched¡¡earlier¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡by¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡for¡¡sinister¡¡motives¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡was¡¡still¡¡unbarred¡¡through¡¡a¡¡fatal¡¡coincidence¡¡of¡¡forgetfulness¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡professor¡£
Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡approached¡¡this¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡knob¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡he¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡noiselessly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡campong¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡house¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡lay¡¡peacefully¡¡sleeping£»¡¡while¡¡at¡¡the¡¡south¡¡gate¡¡Bududreen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡six¡¡cutthroats¡¡crept¡¡cautiously¡¡within¡¡and¡¡slunk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palisade¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡workshop¡¡where¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡chest¡¡of¡¡their¡¡desire¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir¡¡with¡¡fifty¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡hunting¡¡Dyaks¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡east¡¡of¡¡the¡¡camp£»¡¡bent¡¡on¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡whereabouts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡the¡¡Malay¡¡sought¡¡and¡¡bearing¡¡her¡¡away¡¡to¡¡his¡¡savage¡¡court¡¡far¡¡within¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡fastness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Bornean¡¡principality¡£
Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡verandah¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡peered¡¡through¡¡the¡¡window¡¡into¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room£»¡¡where¡¡an¡¡oil¡¡lamp£»¡¡turned¡¡low£»¡¡dimly¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡interior£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡was¡¡unoccupied¡£¡¡¡¡Going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡it¡¡open¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡apartment¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡was¡¡still¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡listened¡¡intently¡¡for¡¡some¡¡slight¡¡sound¡¡which¡¡might¡¡lead¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡victim¡¡he¡¡sought£»¡¡or¡¡warn¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡or¡¡that¡¡of¡¡von¡¡Hornhis¡¡business¡¡was¡¡with¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡disturb¡¡the¡¡others¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sleeping¡¡somewhere¡¡within¡¡the¡¡structurea¡¡low£»¡¡rambling¡¡bungalow¡¡of¡¡eight¡¡rooms¡£
Cautiously¡¡he¡¡approached¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡doors¡¡which¡¡opened¡¡from¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Gently¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡knob¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡ajar¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apartment¡¡beyond¡¡was¡¡in¡¡inky¡¡darkness£»¡¡but¡¡Number¡¡Thirteen's¡¡greatest¡¡fear¡¡was¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡stumbled¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡room¡¡of¡¡Virginia¡¡Maxon£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡if¡¡she¡¡were¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡him¡¡there£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡would¡¡she¡¡be¡¡frightened£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡cries¡¡would¡¡alarm¡¡the¡¡other¡¡inmates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dwelling¡£
The¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horror¡¡that¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡would¡¡arouse¡¡within¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡terrifying¡¡monstrosity£»¡¡added¡¡new¡¡fuel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡hate¡¡that¡¡raged¡¡in¡¡his¡¡bosom¡¡against¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡created¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡clenched¡¡fists£»¡¡and¡¡tight¡¡set¡¡jaws¡¡the¡¡great£»¡¡soulless¡¡giant¡¡moved¡¡across¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡chamber¡¡with¡¡the¡¡stealthy¡¡noiselessness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tiger¡£¡¡Feeling¡¡before¡¡him¡¡with¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡feet¡¡he¡¡made¡¡the¡¡circuit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡before¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bed¡£
Scarce¡¡breathing¡¡he¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡and¡¡groped¡¡across¡¡the¡¡covers¡¡with¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡his¡¡preythe¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡empty¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡discovery¡¡came¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡nervous¡¡reaction¡¡that¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡sweat¡£¡¡¡¡Weakly£»¡¡he¡¡seated¡¡himself¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡Had¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡found¡¡the¡¡throat¡¡of¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡coverlet¡¡they¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡released¡¡their¡¡hold¡¡until¡¡life¡¡had¡¡forever¡¡left¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scientist£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡hatred¡¡had¡¡come¡¡and¡¡gone¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡assailed¡¡by¡¡doubts¡£
Suddenly¡¡he¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡life¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡was¡¡the¡¡father¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡creature¡¡he¡¡adored¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡¡and¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unhappy¡¡were¡¡he¡¡taken¡¡away¡¡from¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡obtruded¡¡itself£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡sufficient¡¡weight¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡him¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡seated¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡meditating¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡act¡¡he¡¡contemplated¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡given¡¡up¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡killing¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡there¡¡were¡¡doubts¡¡and¡¡obstacles¡¡which¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡manifest¡¡before¡£
His¡¡standards¡¡of¡¡right¡¡and¡¡wrong¡¡were¡¡but¡¡half¡¡formed£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡brief¡¡attempts¡¡of¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡and¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡to¡¡inculcate¡¡proper¡¡moral¡¡perceptions¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡entirely¡¡devoid¡¡of¡¡hereditary¡¡inclinations¡¡toward¡¡either¡¡good¡¡or¡¡bad£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡most¡¡perfectlythat¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡soulless¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡damned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡estimation¡¡of¡¡Virginia¡¡Maxon£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡now¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡her¡¡father¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡a¡¡soulless¡¡being¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡this¡¡thought¡¡more¡¡than¡¡another¡¡that¡¡caused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡pause¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡his¡¡revenge£»¡¡since¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡act¡¡he¡¡contemplated¡¡would¡¡brand¡¡him¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thing¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡yet¡¡wished¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡£
At¡¡length£»¡¡however£»¡¡he¡¡slowly¡¡comprehended¡¡that¡¡no¡¡act¡¡of¡¡his¡¡would¡¡change¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡his¡¡origin£»¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡would¡¡make¡¡him¡¡acceptable¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shake¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡he¡¡arose¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡his¡¡search¡¡for¡¡the¡¡professor¡£
In¡¡the¡¡workshop¡¡Bududreen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had¡¡easily¡¡located¡¡the¡¡chest¡£¡¡¡¡Dragging¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡north¡¡campong¡¡the¡¡Malay¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡congratulate¡¡himself¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ease¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡theft¡¡had¡¡been¡¡accomplished¡¡when¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fellows¡¡declared¡¡his¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡going¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡dispatching¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon£»¡¡lest¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡evil¡¡eye¡¡should¡¡overtake¡¡them¡¡with¡¡some¡¡terrible¡¡curse¡¡when¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chest¡¡should¡¡be¡¡discovered¡£
While¡¡this¡¡met¡¡fully¡¡with¡¡Bududreen's¡¡plans¡¡he¡¡urged¡¡the¡¡man¡¡against¡¡any¡¡such¡¡act¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡witnesses¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡that¡¡he¡¡not¡¡only¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crime£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡exerted¡¡his¡¡authority¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡separated¡¡themselves¡¡from¡¡the¡¡party¡¡and¡¡crept¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bungalow¡¡no¡¡force¡¡was¡¡interposed¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡them¡£
The¡¡moon¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡now£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palisade¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir¡¡and¡¡his¡¡savages¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡party¡¡with¡¡Bududreen¡¡squatting¡¡about¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡chest£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡two¡¡who¡¡crept¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir's¡¡evil¡¡mind¡¡there¡¡was¡¡but¡¡one¡¡explanation¡£¡¡Bududreen¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡a¡¡rich¡¡treasure£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡stolen¡¡that¡¡had¡¡dispatched¡¡two¡¡of¡¡his¡¡men¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡also¡£
Rajah¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir¡¡was¡¡furious¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡subdued¡¡whispers¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡half¡¡dozen¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Dyaks¡¡back¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palisade¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bungalow¡¡where¡¡they¡¡were¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡building£»¡¡killing¡¡all¡¡within¡¡except¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡were¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beach¡¡and¡¡the¡¡war¡¡prahus¡£
Then¡¡with¡¡the¡¡balance¡¡of¡¡his¡¡horde¡¡he¡¡crept¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡until¡¡opposite¡¡Bududreen¡¡and¡¡the¡¡watchers¡¡about¡¡the¡¡chest¡£¡¡¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡two¡¡who¡¡crept¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bungalow¡¡reached¡¡it£»¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡word¡¡for¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Malays¡¡and¡¡lascars¡¡who¡¡guarded¡¡the¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡savage¡¡yells¡¡they¡¡dashed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡unsuspecting¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡Parangs¡¡and¡¡spears¡¡glistened¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moonlight¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡and¡¡bloody¡¡encounter£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cowardly¡¡Bududreen¡¡and¡¡his¡¡equally¡¡cowardly¡¡crew¡¡had¡¡had¡¡no¡¡alternative¡¡but¡¡to¡¡fight£»¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡had¡¡the¡¡foe¡¡fallen¡¡upon¡¡them¡£
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As¡¡Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡arose¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡his¡¡search¡¡for¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡his¡¡quick¡¡ear¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡shuffling¡¡of¡¡bare¡¡feet¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡verandah¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡there¡¡broke¡¡suddenly¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡still¡¡night¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡war¡¡cries¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dyaks£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡screams¡¡and¡¡shrieks¡¡of¡¡their¡¡frightened¡¡victims¡¡in¡¡the¡¡campong¡¡without¡£¡¡Almost¡¡simultaneously¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡and¡¡Sing¡¡rushed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡¡to¡¡ascertain¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡alarm£»¡¡while¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡Bududreen's¡¡assassins¡¡sprang¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡upraised¡¡krisses£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡almost¡¡immediately¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Muda¡¡Saffir's¡¡six¡¡Dyaks¡¡brandishing¡¡their¡¡long¡¡spears¡¡and¡¡wicked¡¡parangs¡£
In¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡little¡¡room¡¡was¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡howling£»¡¡fighting¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Dyaks£»¡¡whose¡¡orders¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡inclinations¡¡incited¡¡them¡¡to¡¡a¡¡general¡¡massacre£»¡¡fell¡¡first¡¡upon¡¡Bududreen's¡¡lascars¡¡who£»¡¡cornered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡small¡¡room£»¡¡fought¡¡like¡¡demons¡¡for¡¡their¡¡lives£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Dyaks¡¡had¡¡overcome¡¡them¡¡two¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡number¡¡lay¡¡dead¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡Bududreen's¡¡henchmen¡£
Sing¡¡and¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡professor's¡¡room¡¡gazing¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡carnage¡¡in¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡consternation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡scientist¡¡was¡¡unarmed£»¡¡but¡¡Sing¡¡held¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡wicked¡¡looking¡¡Colt¡¡in¡¡readiness¡¡for¡¡any¡¡contingency¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡evident¡¡the¡¡celestial¡¡was¡¡no¡¡stranger¡¡to¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡his¡¡deadly¡¡weapon£»¡¡nor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡moments¡¡of¡¡extreme¡¡and¡¡sudden¡¡peril¡¡which¡¡demanded¡¡its¡¡use£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡no¡¡more¡¡perturbed¡¡than¡¡had¡¡he¡¡been¡¡but¡¡hanging¡¡out¡¡his¡¡weekly¡¡wash¡£
As¡¡Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡stood£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡both¡¡were¡¡calmthe¡¡Chinaman¡¡with¡¡the¡¡calmness¡¡of¡¡perfect¡¡courage£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡through¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡full¡¡understanding¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grave¡¡danger¡¡which¡¡menaced¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡shone¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡gleamit¡¡was¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡light¡¡of¡¡insanity¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡nervous¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡a¡¡premature¡¡culmination¡£
Now¡¡the¡¡four¡¡remaining¡¡Dyaks¡¡were¡¡advancing¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡Sing¡¡levelled¡¡his¡¡revolver¡¡and¡¡fired¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foremost£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shrill£»¡¡maniacal¡¡scream£»¡¡launched¡¡himself¡¡full¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡second¡£¡¡¡¡Number¡¡Thirteen¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡spurt¡¡from¡¡a¡¡superficial¡¡wound¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡who¡¡received¡¡Sing's¡¡bullet£»¡¡but¡¡except¡¡for¡¡eliciting¡¡a¡¡howl¡¡of¡¡rage¡¡the¡¡missile¡¡had¡¡no¡¡immediate¡¡effect¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Sing¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡trigger¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡cylinder¡¡would¡¡not¡¡revolve¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hammer¡¡fell¡¡futilely¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡empty¡¡cartridge¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡head¡¡hunters¡¡closed¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡the¡¡brave¡¡Chinaman¡¡clubbed¡¡his¡¡weapon¡¡and¡¡went¡¡down¡¡beneath¡¡them¡¡bea